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Every spring, in Venice, Italy, farmers pick a very special artichoke. It is called castraùra. It is small, purple, and only grows for two weeks a year.
A farmer named Guia Camerino picks the castraùra by hand. She works on the island of Le Vignole, near Venice. There are only four farmers on the island who grow this rare plant.
The plant is called carciofo violetto di Sant’Erasmo. It grows on soft, wet soil, and needs a lot of care. The first small buds are picked early. This helps the bigger artichokes grow later.
Each plant makes only one castraùra per year. These small buds are very special. They are soft, sweet, and can be eaten raw (not cooked). People say it is different from regular artichokes.
Why This Artichoke Is So Special
The castraùra is very rare. It only grows in Venice and a few other places. But many people say: “The real castraùra only comes from Sant’Erasmo.”
Some farmers in other parts of Italy try to sell fake castraùra. They grow artichokes in places like Tuscany and Sicily. But people in Venice say those artichokes do not taste the same.
The land in Venice is close to the sea. The salty soil gives the artichokes a special taste. There is even a festival in May to celebrate the castraùra. People eat artichoke food, drink artichoke juice, and buy boxes to take home.
But growing this plant is not easy. Farmers must do everything by hand. They do not use pesticides (chemicals for bugs). And there is a danger: flooding (too much water) from the sea.
The plant needs nine months to grow. Before, farmers picked the castraùra on April 25. But now the weather is warmer, and they must pick it earlier. The plants do not have enough time to grow. Some farmers are worried the castraùra may disappear.
Fake Artichokes in Venice
Castraùra is very delicate (easy to break). That is why it is not sent far from Venice. Farmers pick it, sell it, and people eat it on the same day.
One farmer, Camerino, sells only to restaurants in Venice. She chooses places that understand the quality of real castraùra.
But there is a problem. Some restaurants do not buy the real castraùra.
Why?
Because it is expensive, and many tourists cannot tell the difference.
So, some restaurants use normal artichokes and say they are castraùra. They do this to make more money. They can charge a high price even if the food is not real castraùra.
How to Try Real Castraùra
Do you want to try real castraùra? Here are some simple tips:
- Go to Venice in April. This is the best time for castraùra.
- Call restaurants first. Ask if they have fresh castraùra.
- Buy with a special label. Look for the “consorzio” label — it means the artichoke is real.
- Ask questions. It is OK to ask the seller where the food comes from.
- Missed the season? You can buy castraùra in oil in jars.
- You can drink it too! There is a drink made with castraùra at a local shop in Venice.
There is a restaurant called Al Covino in Venice. It is small and uses only fresh, local food. They cook castraùra in different ways:
- One dish is soft and sweet.
- One dish is pasta with a creamy artichoke sauce.
- One is a salad with raw castraùra, oil, cheese, and lemon.
The chef watches people eat and smile.
The taste is strong but nice.
It reminds visitors of Venice and the sea air.
A Taste You Will Remember
The real castraùra is small, sweet, and very soft. You can eat it raw, without cooking. You can also cook it in many ways — in pasta, salad, or fried.
Chef Dario Parascandolo from the restaurant Al Covino says:
“When people eat it, they smile. The taste is light, but full of flavor. You don’t forget it.”
This artichoke is not just food — it is part of Venice’s culture. It grows in a special place, with care and tradition. Eating real castraùra is like eating the heart of Venice.
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Artichoke – A green or purple vegetable.
Example: We eat the artichoke in spring.
Italy – A country in Europe.
Example: Venice is a city in Italy.
Venice – A city with canals in Italy.
Example: Tourists like to visit Venice.
Farmer – A person who grows food or flowers.
Example: The farmer grows artichokes in the field.
Field – Open land where things grow.
Example: The artichokes grow in the field.
Slow food – Food made fresh and carefully.
Example: Italian slow food tastes very good.
Spring – The season after winter.
Example: Flowers grow in spring.
Fresh – New and not old.
Example: We like to eat fresh vegetables.
Pick – To take fruit or plants by hand.
Example: She picks the artichokes one by one.
Grow – To get bigger or to develop.
Example: The plants grow slowly.
Soft – Easy to bite or chew.
Example: The artichoke is soft to eat.
Taste – The feeling of food in your mouth.
Example: This vegetable has a sweet taste.
Food – Something people eat.
Example: Artichokes are healthy food.
Market – A place to buy and sell things.
Example: He buys food at the market.
Cook – To make food ready to eat.
Example: My mom cooks artichokes for dinner.
Tradition – Something people do for many years.
Example: The people have a food tradition in spring.
Culture – The way people live and celebrate.
Example: Italian food is part of Italian culture.
Island – Land with water all around it.
Example: Venice is on many small islands.
Rare – Not common or not many.
Example: This artichoke is rare and special.
Delicious – Very tasty and good to eat.
Example: The artichoke dish is delicious!